Wednesday, September 26, 2012
You guessed it. I'm back to share more wedding resources from Nashville's Perfect Wedding Guide bridal show. If you mised yesterday's list, follow this link to see some of the show's wedding planners, floral designers, and tablescapes.
Unfortunately, I couldn't visit every booth but I do hope that you discover some new vendors to consider for your wedding.
Bridal Attire - Glitz Bridal
glitzbridal.com
~showcased lovely gowns for brides of all sizes~
Men's Tuxedos and Suits - Street Tuxedo
streettuxedo.com
~Best service and selection for grooms, groomsmen. Period.~
Gown Care - Oakwood Cleaners
oakwoodcleaners.com
~From measurements and alterations to preservation or restoration, these pros are the ones to trust if you love your gown.~
Catering - Ribbons of Chocolate
ribbonsofchocolate.net
~Always delicious southern comfort food ~
Catering - Savor the Flavor
stfcatering.com
~Specializes in global cuisine; ideal for those with adventurous palettes.~
Unique Paper Goods & Invitations - Designs in Paper
designsinpaper.com
~DnP creates super creative paper goods. The playful, square fold out... it's a wedding program!~
Wedding Invitations - Something Detailed
somethingdetailed.com
~i wasnt able to get a picture of this fantastic booth but check out their incredible invitation portfolio via the link above~
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Alterations, Gown Preservation, Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Cakes & Desserts, Invitations & Paper Goods,
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Thursday, August 2, 2012
Sometimes, we don't realize how lucky we Nashvillians are! Couples from around the globe come to Nashville to take advantage of our Nashville wedding talent, landmarks, and unique services. A Nashville institution that is loved locally and beyond is Hatch Show Print.
A brief history
Hatch Show Print is one of the oldest letterpress printing companies in the country. They are known for their famous (southern style) posters that were commercially used to announce concerts and events, for folks like Dolly Parton and BB King. Their posters were so distinctly artful that that the printing company became a piece of Nashville and American history.
Hatch Show Print is a division of another Nashville institution that's also loved for weddings, the Country Music Hall of Fame (CMHF). And, while I've always recognized Hatch Show Print art, it wasn't until I spoke with Mary Ann and Lindsay of the CMHF that I gained a renewed appreciation for Hatch Show Print's history and elaborate design process.
As the daughter of a printer myself, I've always been somewhat familiar with printing and the role that Nashville has played in the printing industry, hence the presence of Printer's Alley. (If you aren't familiar, check out the fascinating history of Printers Alley.) Hatch Show Print, like Printer's Alley, has a well known history. And unlike most historical gems, it's still making history, serving as one of the oldest printing companies still in operation.
Hatch Show Print historical event posters
The turn-of-the-century process for designing a custom art piece:
According to their website... "Starting with customer copy, we design a look that captures the sensibilities of a band, magazine, or product brand, while working within the dimensions of the selected poster size and through the lens of Hatch history. Next, we turn to multiple drawers and shelves containing the letters and hand-carved images needed to complete the design. Then, we carry the entire design form to an available press, lock in, choose a color, and start cranking. Did we say color? If more than one is required, we have to decide which portion of the layout to print in which color. One hundred posters in three colors? That's three times through the press per poster, or three hundred runs altogether."
What Hatch Show Print offers for weddings
Hatch Show Print works with engaged couples to create one-of-a-kind art pieces that can be used for your save the date, wedding invitation, or wedding program. You can also opt for posters, which make great keepsakes for your bridal party or favors for your wedding guests.
Because the process is quite involved, they limit the number of commissions per year. If you are getting married at the Country Music Hall of Fame, you would work directly with your event coordinator, making it a bit easier to ensure space on that coveted list!
A wedding program by Hatch Show Print
The rave reviews speak for themselves.
With one look at Yelp reviews, you can see the excitement created by Hatch Show Print. Christi, a yelper, said this of her Hatch Show Print wedding artwork:
"When my husband and I got engaged, we knew only one thing about the wedding: We wanted Hatch to make the invitations! And we were absolutely thrilled with the results. We told the designer the colors we wanted, and gave her the copy, and from that she created exactly what we wanted but couldn't quite verbalize! We also had posters made directing folks to our wedding and reception sites, since both were a little hard to find. Then we used one of the posters and had it matted & framed so folks could sign it at the reception."
If you are looking for a piece of Nashville history, the Country Music Hall of Fame combined with a Hatch Show Print = a modern way to celebrate our rich, Nashville culture.
A Hatch Show Print poster hangs behind the bride at a Country Music Hall of Fame wedding
A Hatch Show Print save-the-date that doubles as frameable artwork
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Invitations & Paper Goods, Unique Wedding Ideas,
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Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Aside from being in love and finding the man/woman of your dreams, I would have to say that my top 3 wedding loves are: pretty paper, amazing cakes, and killer wedding design. I also love showcasing Nashville's local wedding talent. So, when I came across Elle, designer/founder of Jam + Toast (a wedding invitation company), I was excited! Elle's website is full of color and her wedding invitation designs are just as vibrant and enchanting.
Elle is hosting a Facebook/Twitter giveaway, which ends next week so you still have time to participate (and should) if you haven't already. It's super simple; you could win a great deal on your invites and at minimum you will help a local artist.
Here are the details on the wedding invitation contest. Hurry, hurry, and participate!
Toast + Jam is "offering $150 towards Custom Wedding Invitations or Save the Dates so that means you get the custom design part for FREE! One lucky winner will be drawn at the first of August but if you enter the giveaway and like us on Facebook you will get a discount code!
If we have 500 fans by August 1st, all of our fans will receive 25% off their next order. And if we have 1,000 fans by August 1st, everyone will receive 50% off their next order!!! That’s crazy! So make sure you enter to win the custom wedding invitations and become our friend on Facebook and of course, share it with all your girlfriends so that you can get 50% off!
So to enter, click the Facebook Sweepstakes image.... You can also enter on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway for extra entries!"
Please note: Toast + Jam offers custom as well as pre-made wedding paper goods. Many of the invites shown above are pre-made and can be easily purchased via their online store. However, this contest is for custom invites so you will work directly with Elle to design a one-of-a-kind design for your wedding.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Contests, Giveaways, Specials, Invitations & Paper Goods,
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Marianne Mandrell, owner of Quad Deuce Design, offers a modern touch to your wedding stationery! Marianne has been doing freelance stationery and graphic design for about 10 years, and beginning last October, made it her full time job, always striving toward a colorful, crisp, graphic style in her work.
Marianne can beautifully create all things stationery wise for your wedding, including invitations, table numbers, placecards, etc. She’s happy to design whatever you need, and is working on a couture collection.
For pricing, Marianne typically operates in a customized format, depending on the stationery’s embellishment. Basic invitations sets usually start at $5 per invitation and go up from there. Marianne focuses on using quality materials and has access to amazing vendors.
Marianne, owner of Quad Deuce Design
Please visit Marianne’s website at www.quaddeucedesign.com and contact her if interested! She would love to have a phone conversation with you to help you decide if she’s a good fit! You can reach her at (615) 474-9517 as well as email her at quaddeucedesign{at}gmail.com
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Posted by Betsy-Intern |
Filed under: Invitations & Paper Goods,
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Thursday, May 10, 2012
A few months ago, Kim, owner of paperKuts Studio shared advice at our Smart Bride Bootcamp on shopping for wedding stationery. There were so many questions presented by brides at our camp that I thought you, our online readers, might also want to know a little more about wedding stationery. So I reached back out to Kim to ask specific questions that might benefit you.
Invitations give your wedding guests the first impression and taste of your wedding style; so, it helps to get expert advice on how you want to be represented and where you can save vs where not to cut-corners. Here's what Kim had to say about wedding stationery during our Q+A.
What exactly does a wedding stationery set include?
There are two basic elements for wedding stationery: invite and RSVP card. Everything else would be considered additional items, such as: reception card, accommodation card, maps, related events…you name it! You can add anything to your invite that you want or need.
What are some great ways to save on wedding stationery?
Ways to save can include:
*eliminating the extras (lined envelopes, embellishments, etc.)
*order standard sized invites (saves you from spending extra on postage)
*include RSVP on invitation
*basic printing (use black ink)
*order extra invitations with your initial order so you don’t have to order more expensive ones if you run out
The best way to save on invites is the DIY way! Even with that, you have to be careful. If you are not a ‘crafty’ person, then it can become costly if you make a mistake, have to purchase more, etc. With the Internet, you can find anything, so, to me, knowing your budget is primary. You can easily get an estimate on how much your stationery will cost.
Are there trends you're seeing brides do for wedding stationery that's both affordable and creative?
Sometimes what’s trending is not what a bride wants. So, I believe it is truly the brides decision and what she wants for her big day! I’ve had brides that purchased a basic invite and added a crystal or a bow. Some have used calligraphy to add a special touch. Also, having a custom invite can be affordable and specific to meet the bride’s needs.
What are some red flags? Are there things that appear to be inexpensive for wedding stationery that actually turn out to be surprisingly expensive?
Items that turn out to be expensive really depend on the needs of the bride. Any additional item that you add on will add to the cost of the invite. What I really find to be costly is waiting until the last minute, not proofing the invite (and not catching mistakes before they are printed) and not ordering enough invites. Most invites are ordered in increments of 25. When you have to go back and order more, it is expensive.
What do you think brides should keep in mind when they're sorting out their wedding stationery?
Brides should keep in mind their budget, what the impression is that they want to convey, and their primary needs.
How does the theme of a wedding affect wedding stationery?
I believe your invitation sets the tone for any event that one is having. If a bride has a certain theme in mind, it can really affect her choice of stationery, the cost, and if the invite will have all of the additional items that she might need (RSVP, accommodation, etc). A custom invite might be needed in this case.
Can you tell me a bit about paperKuts studio and what it offers to the bridal community?
paperKuts studio is a cozy, home-based business. I offer stationery for any occasion and can provide all of the bride's needs, from beginning to end - napkins, favors, programs, shower invites, etc. I try to make my brides feel comfortable and confident in their choice of stationery. It is an honor if a person chooses to work with me and I want the experience to be a pleasurable one for all. Stationery makes me happy and I want anyone that visits to be just as excited about their paper choice as I am.
All invitations shown are a few of my favorites from the Marsupial Invitation line (via their Facebook page). This chic invitation line and others are available by contacting Kim of paperKuts studio.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Invitations & Paper Goods,
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